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Scholars debate whether the recent conversion of millions of Latin Americans to evangelical Protestantism bodes well for democratic participation or reinforces authoritarian culture and practices. Using a resource model, this study examines the link between participation in religious organizations, political engagement, and political participation in Brazil and Chile. Survey data indicate that religious organizations, particularly Protestant ones, can provide skills that members can transfer to political activity; and that different religions can result in different politics.

Andreas Wimmer argues that nationalist and ethnic politics have shaped modern societies to a far greater extent than has been acknowledged by social scientists. The modern state governs in the name of a people defined in ethnic and national terms. Democratic participation, equality before the law and protection from arbitrary violence were offered only to the ethnic group in a privileged relationship with the emerging nation-state. Depending on circumstances, the dynamics of exclusion took on different forms. Where nation building was 'successful', immigrants and 'ethnic minorities' are excluded from full participation; they risk being targets of xenophobia and racism. In weaker states, political closure proceeded along ethnic, rather than national lines and leads to corresponding forms of conflict and violence. In chapters on Mexico, Iraq and Switzerland, Wimmer provides extended case studies that support and contextualise this argument

First published in 1989, Political Change in Spain provides a stimulating and innovative account of Spain's maturing democracy since 1982. Challenging the accepted wisdom that Spanish democracy is a fragile plant, the author demonstrates its strong roots and healthy growth in the context of the European Community. He argues that, despite the problems of economic transformation, Spain's political attachments to Western Europe suggest that the Spanish economy will benefit in the long run from its increasing integration with its neighbours. The book also analyses the continuing threat to stability posed by separatist aspirations in the Basque country, in the context of the experiments with autonomous regional governments. This book will be valuable to anyone looking for a succinct introduction to changes in Spain, as well as to students of Western European politics, women's studies and the Spanish language.

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Political activity is a telling behavior about a generation, influencing how policy makers in the U.S. do their jobs and how budgets are set. A generation without any political activity risks missing out on benefits from activity, while an active generation may help shape the institutions and traditions in a political culture. There are significant challenges to measuring individual political activity, and the question isn't simply "how politically active are you?" A tool traditionally used to address this challenge is a seven- point scale based on the correlation between an individual's party identification and political activism. This measurement allows polltakers to label themselves as strong or weak for either major party, independent leaning Republican/Democrat or truly independent. For a deeper look, scholars can gauge political activism by examining a number of sub-levels of activism, rather than relying simply on a seven-point scale. Social identity has become an important way to measure levels of partisanship and interest amongst the citizenry.

"This title was first published in 2001. An investigation of the new wave of militant political activity emerging across Europe. The book examines the role of emotions in militant activity, the way in which the body is implicated in militant political actions, and the concept of media modernity as a precondition for the contemporary politics of militancy."--Provided by publisher.